Sir Sydney Kentridge QC, of Brick Court Chambers, in a paper written pro bono at the Bar Council’s request and published on 26 March, was highly critical of the report’s “far-reaching conclusions based on selective quotation, flimsy evidence or no evidence at all”.

Michael McLaren QC, Craig Ulyatt and Christopher Knowles of Fountain Court Chambers, in a paper for the Bar Standards Board published on the same day, said the report was flawed in both its reasoning and evidence, and warned that those accused of violent crimes such as rape and terrorism could struggle to find appropriate legal representation if the rule is abolished.